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Council hears presentation on SEPA code amendments to adopt state categorical exemptions
Summary
Planning staff presented Ordinance No. 69-72 to update Auburn’s SEPA code to reflect recent changes in state thresholds for categorical exemptions and to add planned actions and an optional determination-of-nonsignificance process.
At the March 24 Auburn City Council study session, senior planner Diana Reed presented Ordinance No. 69-72, a proposed update to the city code that would align local rules with recent Washington state changes to State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) categorical exemptions and add two code sections the city has been using: planned actions and an optional determination-of-nonsignificance process.
The matters are important because the state changes raise the size and scale of some development that will be categorically exempt from SEPA review, potentially shortening permitting timelines for certain housing and building projects.
"SEPA was enacted in 1971 in Washington state," Diana Reed said while outlining background and the purpose of the changes. She explained the state rule changes (WAC 197-11-800 and related provisions) give local jurisdictions the option to adopt new thresholds for minor new construction and categorical exemptions to streamline permitting and reduce costs for developers.
Reed summarized the most significant exemptions the state clarified or raised: single-unit residential dwelling construction thresholds increased (the city packet cites the updated threshold as up to 30 single-unit dwelling units in some contexts), multifamily residential construction thresholds up to 200 units, nonresidential building size thresholds increased from 12,000 to 30,000 square feet (with associated parking facilities designed for 90 or fewer automobiles), standalone parking lots with 90 or fewer spaces, and fill or excavation volumes of 1,000 cubic yards or less. Reed stressed that the city can still require SEPA where staff identifies a likelihood of significant adverse environmental impacts.
Reed also described several code renamings and updates: references to the city’s former "6-year street plan" are now the Auburn Transportation Plan, the Auburn Capital Improvements Plan is now called the Auburn Capital Facilities Plan, and other appendices and supporting documents were updated. She said the city has previously used planned actions for larger subarea plans and that adding a planned-actions section codifies existing practice.
Council members did not record votes on the ordinance at the study session; Reed presented the ordinance and invited questions.
The ordinance materials are in the council packet starting at page 32.
